New rules govern head injuries

When Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 143 in late December, Ohio became the 44th state to adopt youth concussion legislation.

The bill, considered more comprehensive than those adopted by many states because it extends beyond high school athletics and into youth leagues, becomes a law today. Ohio High School Athletic Association assistant commissioner Jerry Snodgrass couldn't be any more pleased.

"This is an important piece of legislation," said Snodgrass, who serves as the OHSAA's chief administrator for baseball, boys and girls basketball and boys and girls soccer. "We now have a standardized procedure to follow in the event an athlete suffers a head injury."

Under the new law, coaches and officials must complete a free online training program to familiarize themselves with the signs of a concussion and are required to immediately remove an athlete from competition if the athlete exhibits any symptoms. The athlete can't return to competition the same day the injury occurred and coaches are prohibited from allowing the athlete to return to competition until receiving written clearance from a physician or licensed health care provider.

"Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, we are learning from medical research, are affecting thousands of children," said state Rep. Sean O'Brien, one of the bill's primary sponsors. "By bringing this legislation out there, it is giving parents, coaches and referees information about TBIs."

The law has drawn praise from the medical community.

"With the signing of House Bill 143, Ohio Gov. John Kasich joins ... other supporters in giving to millions of youth and families the gift of healthier, safer sports," the American College of Sports Medicine said in a statement. "ACSM salutes the policy makers and advocates in Ohio for this achievement."

According to a study published in the September 2010 issue of the journal Pediatrics, there are between 1.6 and 3.8 millions sports related concussions in the United State every year. High school athletes sustain about 300,000 concussions.

"Our primary concern has always been and will continue to be the safety of the athletes," Snodgrass said.

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New rules govern head injuries

When Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 143 in late December, Ohio became the 44th state to adopt youth concussion legislation.